Jeff grunted. "I'll give you that Senator Armstrong isn't going to do anything to our child, at least not that we could prove."

"Right. We'll be fine, Jeff, I promise."

He sighed. "Fine, baby. Be sure to call or scream emotionally if you need me."

"You know I will."

"I know trouble finds you without any effort on your part." But he stopped arguing, gave Jamie more snuggles, me another kiss, then headed downstairs.

I finished getting dressed. It was springtime now, so it was nice out. I put on my Converse, a pair of comfy jeans, and one of my many Aerosmith shirts. Things were always better with my boys on my chest. I brought along my zippered Lifehouse hooded sweat jacket, because it could still get too cold for me here, and besides, I liked to ensure I had my rock bases covered.

I packed up what Jamie would need and got her stroller out. It was top of the line, a baby gift from Reader. He'd also had every known A-C bell and whistle added onto it, including a laser shield. That had saved not only my and Jamie's lives, but the lives of the boys and Mr. Joel Oliver, too. Operation Assassination had certainly been explosion-filled.

I settled Jamie into the stroller so that she was sitting up but protected by the sunshade. Hung the diaper bag on one strong hook, put my purse over the hook on the other side, draped my jacket over the sunshade.

I was ready to call for the boys when something cooed. It was right by my side. The male Peregrine I was pretty sure had been sent to me, specifically, was there. He looked as though he had every intention of accompanying us on our constitutional.

"You are staying here."

I got another coo and a hurt look.

"I'm going to pay a call on Capitol Hill. I think. But they don't let animals in."

Another hurt look, and a pointed look into the stroller to stare at the Poofs.

"They're smaller. They look like stuffed animals. No one notices. They also can disappear if necessary."

More pointed staring, at the Poofs and me. The bird for sure looked as if its feelings were being hurt.

"It's not safe out there for you."

Got a bird look saying if it wasn't safe for a Peregrine, it certainly wasn't safe for me or Jamie.

"Animal Control will take you away."

Really felt the bird was telling me Animal Control could feel free to "bring it."

"Oh, this sucks. Com on! Walter, can you connect me to Mister White?"

"Yes, Chief. Go ahead."

"Missus Martini, how goes your morning?"

"I have a Peregrine refusing to leave my side, Mister White."

"They are loyal."

"They are a problem. I'm getting ready to gather you and the boys so we can put our plan of talking to Mister Joel Oliver, Senator Armstrong, and our friends in the K-9 squad into action. I'm bringing Jamie along, and we have three attack Poofs with us. I think we're safe. Bruno the Peregrine Enforcer, however, feels otherwise."

White coughed. "Is, ah, Bruno standing there with you?"

"Yes. Why?"

He sighed. "Like the Poofs. . . ."

I looked down. "Bruno?"

The Peregrine bobbed his head, fluffed his feathers, and gave a manly coo.

"He likes it. Bruno it is. But Bruno has to stay here, guarding the manse. I can't go to visit Senator Armstrong to discuss faked dirty pictures with a humongous bird strolling alongside like it's a Labrador."

"Actually, you can. I'll be right up."

I eyed Bruno while we waited. He seemed quite pleased with himself. I wondered what his mate was called. "Your woman would probably prefer that you stay here with her."

Bruno gave me a look that indicated his woman felt the execution of his assigned duties was paramount. I wondered how I'd gone from no idea what went on in a bird's mind to having one-sided yet comprehensible conversations with a space avian.

There was a knock at the door. Bruno went with me to open it. Just like a dog. White was standing there. He looked ready to head out, too. That was good. Right now, nothing else was, so I was happy for any small victory.

"Richard, oh, my God. This is a nightmare."

Bruno ruffled his feathers and gave a quiet squawk. It was clear that I'd insulted him.

"Sorry, Bruno. I just wasn't prepared for your arrival."

Bruno nudged his head against my leg, indicating that he knew I was stressed and all was forgiven.

I looked back at White. "Richard, I'm losing it. I swear to you I'm having conversations with Bruno."

He nodded. "I'm sure you are."

"Oh, I hate it when I make an insane comment and someone says it's natural."

White shook his head. "Probably not natural. As I said last night, it's likely your talent."

"I know you said that last night. And it sounds as ridiculous this morning as it did then. I may be mutated, but how in the world would I inherit some bizarre Doctor Doolittle talent? I've never heard anyone mention speaking with the animals as an A-C talent."

He sighed. "It's not. Which proves my point."

"Not to me. At all. Clueless as to how you're making this leap."

"I realize you don't have what we'd call standard A-C talents. However, you have a natural affinity for animal sciences and an ability to control animal behaviors."

"Have you seen my dogs and cats? Because no one but my mother controls their animal behaviors, least of all me."

"A-C animal behaviors. You control the Poofs."

"They're guardians."

"As we also said last night, they normally only take direction from the head Poof. However, they all take direction from you, and have since they first arrived on Earth. Very rare, believe me. Why do you think Gladys doesn't feel the Poofs are safe? Under normal working conditions, the Poofs make the decision to, ah, eat or not."

I thought about this. When we'd taken on the old, nasty King of Alpha Four, I hadn't asked the Poofs to protect me when Adolphus had attacked me-they'd done it on their own, hence why Adolphus was no more. But they'd also done anything I'd asked them to, including eat up all the former Diplomatic Corps. Hey, I wasn't wild about people who took my men-all my men-and tortured them.

"Well, maybe they're just always in agreement with me."

"Maybe so. Perhaps they're in agreement with you, Missus Martini, because you talk to them in the right way."

"Wonderful. So, you're saying that because I've mutated, said mutation has increased my sensitivity or whatever to A-C animals, and so I can understand them and they can, therefore, understand me?" I thought about it. "Even better than they already understood me, since they understood me before. Right?"

"Well put. Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. For all we know, it may extend to Earth animals as well."

"Fabulous, and we'll see. I'm more concerned with Bruno staying home. We need to get a move on."

White nodded. "Understood. Why don't you ask, ah, Bruno if he would be willing to go invisible?"

"Oh, no. Really? They go invisible? And this is normal on your planet?"

"Somewhat. These are Royal Guardians. I call it invisible, but it's more that they have the ability to blend in with whatever their surroundings are."

I groaned. "They're chameleons." I looked around. "How many of them are out here, hanging where I can't see them, pretending to be a chair or something?"

"None, since you're not in danger." White took my arm and started to push the stroller out of our rooms. Bruno cooed at him and trotted out with us.

"Bruno still looks like an attack peacock."

"Explain the situation to him."

I sighed. "Bruno, my man, bird, whatever, if you are going to force yourself upon me, then no one can see you, okay? We're not on Alpha Four. On Earth, humongous birds such as yourself live in zoos. They don't waltz around like pets. So, if you plan on waltzing, do it chameleon style."

Bruno bobbed his head, waited until I was looking right at him, and winked.

"Richard? He winked at me."

"Good. You and Bruno have clearly bonded. This is good." We were in the elevator. Bruno flapped up onto the handle of the stroller.

"Bruno, um, hard to push with you here. And, seriously, if you poop or whatever on my Converse, my Lifehouse jacket, or, God help you, my Aerosmith shirt, you're dinner, bond or no bond."

Bruno fluffed his feathers to indicate he was more than house-trained. He also didn't move. He looked around, pointedly.

"Okay, fine. I understand. It's easier to see and be on guard. Fine, fine. If you'd prefer, you can perch on the front end, but if you poop on Jamie you are a dead bird."

Got the cooing and head bobbing. Bruno was fine with where he was perched, thank you very much.

"Richard, I don't think I can take this."

"Missus Martini, in my experience, there's nothing you are unable to handle. I already advised Len and Kyle to meet us."

The elevator doors opened. Sure enough, the boys were there, ready to go. They gaped at us.

"If you need to walk around with a pet, much as I hate to say it, the dogs are a better choice," Len said.

"I thought you said they could go invisible."

White sighed. "They can. Why would Bruno waste the effort while we're within the Embassy?"

"Oh. Good point."

"They can go invisible?" Kyle didn't sound like this was an exciting bit of news.

"Apparently. And Bruno here is coming with us. Look at it this way-we'll certainly be able to surprise Mister Joel Oliver. For once."

Len shook his head as we reached the front door. "I'm not worried about him. Or even the senator. I'm wondering what the K-9 dogs are going to do."

We all exchanged a look. "Wow. We are so screwed." I sighed. "Or, as we like to call it, routine. So, let's get going and see how bizarre today's going to end up."

CHAPTER 30.

I WANTED TO WALK, because it was a nice day and we could use the exercise. However, Len felt we had too many places to go, and Kyle was concerned about using public transportation with Bruno along. Before this debate could turn ugly, White overruled us all, backed Len, and insisted we take a limo.

It wasn't always the best choice for us. The first time we'd tried it here, our limo had exploded. We had fun like that a lot.

I managed to refrain from asking why I'd bothered to get Jamie's stroller all set up nicely if we were going to drive, but before I could, my phone rang. I dug it out of my purse and checked the number.

"Senator Armstrong. It's been so long." Well, it had been in terms of experience. As I thought about it, though, I'd talked to and seen him roughly twenty-four hours ago.

"Ambassador, I heard there was trouble at NASA Base when you went there. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I'm rather touched that you're calling to check on my health and welfare." And suspicious. Very suspicious.

The senator was quiet for a few long moments. I remained quiet, too. Hey, I hadn't initiated the phone call. "I believe I need your help."

This was a new one. "I thought you were the one wanting to help me."

"I was and still am." He cleared his throat. "I . . . received new pictures today."

"Great. Who am I supposedly doing the nasty with this time?"

"Ah . . . me."

Well. Apparently I really got around. In someone's imagination, anyway. "You know what's funny?"

"Funny ha-ha or funny strange?"